PAUL KIDDIE

FORMER Jambo Sandy Clark helped mastermind Aberdeen's jinx-busting win over Rangers - and is plotting the same fate for high-flying Hearts.

The Dons ended a 25-game winless streak against the champions with a stunning 3-2 victory at Pittodrie at the weekend and now have another unwanted record in their sights as they prepare to travel to Tynecastle.

Jimmy Calderwood's outfit have not triumphed in Gorgie since February 1999, when current Hearts striker Dennis Wyness and Paul Bernard clinched a 2-0 victory for the visitors.

In the 10 matches in the Capital since, Aberdeen have managed to find the back of the net just once - Roberto Bisconti hit a rare goal in season 2001-02 - and Clark insists it's about time things improved.

"It was seven years since we had beaten Rangers but records are there to be broken and we'll be coming to Tynecastle looking to win the match," said Clark, who was appointed as first-team coach at Pittodrie in the summer.

"There's no way we'll be at Tynecastle trying to sneak a win. That's not Jimmy Calderwood's style and he'll set his stall out accordingly."

Clark has been impressed by his old club's sensational start to the campaign, Hearts having romped to the top of the SPL after three straight victories.

Much of the attention has been trained on new boss George Burley and the seemingly endless number of new recruits at Tynecastle, Euro 2004 winner Takis Fyssas the most recent arrival just days before his debut in the 3-0 win at Dundee United on Sunday.

Clark became a fans favourite with his all-action attacking style during five years leading the Jambos front line and he knows better than most the injection of confidence the free-scoring Gorgie outfit will have enjoyed in recent weeks.

Impressed like most other onlookers with the cutting edge which Burley's new-look side possesses, the former strike star reckons the SPL pacesetters' success so far this season is as much down to some familiar faces as the influx of highly-paid foreign stars.

"Jimmy Calderwood and Jimmy Nichol saw the recent Edinburgh derby and said that Hearts played very well against Hibs," he said.

"They have an exceptional start to the new season and have scored 11 goals in three matches. You can't complain about that and the one thing that scoring goals does is breed confidence.

"There has been a lot of publicity about the number of new signings from abroad which George Burley has made since taking over.

"But if you look at the defence against United on Sunday of Craig Gordon, Robbie Neilson, Steven Pressley and Andy Webster - and also Paul Hartley in midfield - they are the players whom Hearts have relied heavily on over the last couple of years.

"I think the contributions of the guys at the back have been overlooked because of the goals the team has been scoring. They are a solid defensive unit and will be looking for a third clean sheet in a row this weekend."

The Dons, though, couldn't be in better fettle themselves as they go in search of a first pay packet in Gorgie in six years.

Former Celtic winger Jamie Smith's late strike condemned the champions to their first league defeat on the road since last August and Clark is hoping the Dons can now build on their unexpected success as they set about redressing the balance against Saturday's hosts.

"Given the way Hearts have started the season, we are expecting a very tough match at Tynecastle," he said. "But we are coming off the back of a great performance and result against Rangers on Sunday and are looking forward to the game. Maybe the difference between the two teams at the moment is that, while Hearts have had pretty much everybody fit, we have been missing the likes of Darren Mackie, Michael Hart, Richie Byrne and Andrew Considine through injury and so we haven't really been able to have proper preparations with the full squad.

"We were disappointed to lose to Killie but to get three points off Rangers was a real bonus. Saturday is shaping up to be a cracker so I hope it doesn't disappoint. I'd rather have a 4-4 draw than a 0-0!"

Saturday's match is already a sell-out with the Gorgie faithful responding in their droves to Vladimir Romanov's revolution.

"That shows the supporters have belief in the team," said Clark. "There is a big fan base for Hearts and while the past two or three years may have been difficult for them off the park, the team probably over achieved under Craig Levein.

"I hope both Aberdeen and Hearts are up there challenging the Old Firm this season as it would be good for the game in Scotland."

Clark will no doubt receive a warm welcome from the fans as he takes his place in the visitors' dug out at the weekend.

"Being in the opposing camp at Tynecastle on Saturday is nothing new for me and the day is all about the players," he said.

"They performed well against Rangers and we'll be looking for them to do the same this weekend."


Taken from the Scotsman